Midland Gate Shopping Centre, Cnr of Cale Street & The Crescent, Midland
Ph: (08) 9250 5885
www.chatters.com.au
Chic Chinese
Roomy, modern and smart with black furnishings and red highlights, I was impressed when I entered Chatters Restaurant in Midland. We were greeted by Manager Kevin Tian, a warm Singaporean man who was very attentive and, can I say, chatty?
He told us that this is a family business and quite new to Midland. His family have run Chatters in Morley for over ten years, and own Chatterbox at ECU. They also cater for the industrial and domestic market, and have won numerous awards, including the 2007 Lifestyle Channel Food Award for one of the 15 best Asian restaurants in Australia, the Restaurant and Catering Association awards for the Asian food and new restaurant categories and the Hanson Swan Business Awards. .
I was amused by the word “CREW” on the back of the staff T-shirts, and was told that Chatters is proud of their team work, on the job training and service.
There are six to eight chefs preparing quality Asian and Thai cuisine at any one time and they would need them, for the 180 items on the menu! We were told that most of the produce is Western Australian. That delighted me as I am from a WA farming background.
The staff were friendly without being too attentive, and the food brought promptly along with plenty of chilled water.
The ‘Larb chicken’ was a dish with real bite. A Thai recipe of chicken minced with red and green chilli, onion and tomato and served on a bed of white rice. The taste was enhanced by the Crowded House 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, increasing the fiery sensation.
My favourite was also the owner’s favourite- ‘Choo-Chee fish’, delightful crumbly pieces of battered fish in a creamy sauce scattered with crunchy cashews. The generous salad of fresh white and purple cabbage with spring onions paired beautifully with it. My friend called this a funky dish!
The ‘Ginger beef’ had a sweet and sour element with small very tender beef chunks and crisp broccoli and the sting of ginger made a delectable amalgamation!
We also enjoyed the ‘Ga-Tiam Pik prawns’ which were sweet, perfectly cooked battered king prawns served with spring onions, chilli, onion and lettuce. My friend voted this the best dish.
Unfortunately we didn’t have time to try the Novus 8 dessert and beverages menu, a new concept that complements the main menu, but it looked very inviting.
We were stunned by the prices. I am seriously thinking of giving up cooking at this rate!
I will definitely be back for Dim Sum one Sunday. I learnt that this Chinese tradition is a snacking (and chattering!) experience, with no main courses, but continuous trolleys of tempting steamed, fried and sweet dishes. Yum Cha means tea drinking and the tea you choose is as important as the food. It is a perfect way for families to catch up and chew the fat.
If you want an attractive, modern restaurant with atmosphere, at amazingly reasonable prices for a romantic dinner, a big family function, or a large corporate banquet, you can’t go past Chatters at Midland Gate Shopping Centre.
Chatters is open daily from 11am for lunch and 5.30pm till late for dinner. It is fully licenced or BYO and has a take away menu. It has three private rooms and a night bar for functions, small and large.
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By Frances Myshell
